Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to R J Matejczyk.
A study to determine the specificity of a new morphine radioimmunoassay (RIA) procedure was performed on 23 drugs of forensic science interest. Spiked whole blood and urine specimens were analyzed and the apparent morphine concentrations determined. All compounds analyzed showed low cross-reactivity, indicating a high specificity for morphine.
The effect of putrefaction on postmortem blood, bone marrow and eye fluid ethanol levels was evaluated in rabbits. Control and dosed animals were sacrificed and stored at either room temperature (approx. 19 degrees C) or cold temperature (approx. 3.5 degrees C) for as long as 28 days. Control animals stored at room temperature showed ethanol levels in the bone marrow that peaked at 7 days after sacrifice, followed by decreases to a nondetectable level at 21 days. Overall decreases were demonstrated in bone marrow of dosed rabbits stored at room temperature for all postmortem intervals. The control animals stored at low temperature showed no ethanol in the bone marrow and blood until 21 days after sacrifice. Dosed rabbits stored at low temperature showed no significant changes in blood and marrow ethanol until 21 days after sacrifice.
An accidental overdose fatality resulting from the intravenous injection of Sublimaze (fentanyl) is presented. Fentanyl was extracted from postmortem specimens by a basic extraction procedure. Benzene was used as the extraction solvent and alfentanyl as the internal standard. The drug was quantitated by electron impact gas chromatography/mass spectrometry in the selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode. Fentanyl concentrations were, blood, 4.0 micrograms/L; urine, 13.0 micrograms/L; liver, 9.7 micrograms/kg, and kidney, 8.6 micrograms/kg.